Iga Swiatek defeats Elena Rybakina to win Qatar TotalEnergies Open

Elena Rybakina had the lead and many opportunities, but she could not dethrone Iga Swiatek who became the first three-time champion at the Qatar TotalEnergies Open on Saturday. Swiatek has played some of her best tennis in Doha in 2022, 2023, and 2024 to pull off the three-peat. She lost to Rybakina all three times they played in 2023 making this victory even sweeter.

Rybakina jumped out to a 4-1 lead in the first set. The wind and Rybakina's play had Swiatek rattled. Then, in a weird twist of events, Rybakina hit her shin with her racket while serving. It caused a medical timeout because she was bleeding, allowing Swiatek to regroup and chat briefly with her coach. Swiatek won five straight games after the medical timeout.

Rybakina managed to get herself into a position to serve for the first set at 6-5 but was broken and lost the ensuing tiebreak. The first set was 90 minutes long, and each player won 54 points in it.

Swiatek loves Doha

Both players left the court after the first set. Rybakina kept swinging her way through the match. She did not convert as many first serves which was the difference between the two players.

Swiatek managed the conditions and her opponent the best over the two hour and fifteen minute match winning with the final score of 7-6, 6-2. Both players committed more unforced errors than usual (20+) in the two-set match. The wind and trying to outmaneuver the competitor on the opposite side of the court were contributing factors.

Both players have a short respite before playing in Dubai next week. Each has a match scheduled for Tuesday. Rybakina has played a lot of tennis this year, already winning two titles. Swiatek was the fresher player of the two, playing less since the Australian Open.

Swiatek, known more for her clay court prowess with multiple wins at the French Open, loves Doha and is likely already thinking about a fourth title win in 2025.

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